# NTSB ATL96LA067: Mooney M20C, N78896, Kingston, TN, March 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 1996, 18:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Kingston, TN - Coordinates: 35.870216, -84.50949 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8702&lon=-84.5095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3709/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA067 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate pre-flight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had just departed Meadow Lake, and was in cruise flight at about 2,000 feet above ground level when the aircraft engine lost power. He attempted to execute a forced landing in a field. The aircraft struck a utility building during the forced landing. The initial postcrash inspection revealed that the airplane was intact and fuel tanks did not appear to be compromised. The fuel tanks were examined, the right fuel tank contained no fuel, and the left fuel tank contained a small amount of residual fuel. The fuel gauges were inspected, and the right fuel quantity indicator showed full, although there was no fuel in the airplane. The pilot stated he did not perform a complete walk around of the airplane before the flight, or visibly check the fuel quantity. He used only the fuel gauges as a reference for fuel quantity, and thought he had 26 gallons on board before takeoff. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 1996, at 1855 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20C, N78896, was substantially damaged following a collision with a building and terrain near Kingston, Tennessee. The commercial pilot received serious injuries, and his passenger received minor injuries in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The flight departed Meadow Lake, Tennessee, and was destined for Jacksboro, Tennessee. The pilot reported that he had just departed Meadow Lake, and was in cruise flight at about 2000 feet above ground level when the aircraft engine lost power. He attempted to execute a forced landing in a field. The aircraft struck a utility building during the forced landing attempt. The FAA Investigator stated he performed a post crash inspection of the aircraft. He indicated there were no visible signs of leakage from either fuel tank resulting from the accident. The airplane was intact and the fuel tanks did not appear to be compromised. The right fuel tank contained no fuel, and the left fuel tank contained a small amount of residual fuel. The airplane was then hooked up to battery power in order to operate the fuel gauges, and the right fuel quantity indicator showed to be almost full, although there was no fuel in the aircraft. The pilot stated he did not perform a complete walk around of the airplane before flight, or visibly check the fuel quantity. Not knowing the right fuel quantity indicator was not working properly, he used only the fuel gauges as a reference for fuel quantity, and thought he had 26 gallons of fuel on board before takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78896](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78896-1997-05-01), registration cancelled 1997-05-01, S/N 2911 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2911 - Airframe hours: 2065 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas D. Kinser - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 1996, 3 hours before - Departed: 30A, MEADOW LAKE, TN - Destination: JAU, JACKSBORO, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 786 total, 648 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 27 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960317004359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960317004359A), Mar 17, 1996: Mooney M20C, Kingston, TN, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Struck a building landing in a field. Fuel tanks empty on short flight. Error in fuel gauge. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.